* Navigating By Stars *

A bit more crafting and thrifting

 

This little bundle is waiting to be printed. I thought i would make something  with a Nautical theme, there seems to be a lot of it around this spring. Mind you there is always somewhere in a 2 year cycle that a Nautical theme will appear in Fashion . I suppose it is timeless. I have always loved sailor pants, those flat fronted trousers.There are pictures of Coco chanel wearing them in the 1920's, what a woman, such elegance.

Sorry not such a great picture.This where my ideas started. I was playing around, making these corsages in a Nautical stylie, took me ages to source some Naval buttons. These are new from John Lewis. I was hunting everywhere... sure that in the dim and distant past my grandmother had lots of vintage ones in her button tin.' My one weakness'.I think i am going to adopt this saying by Dorcas 'postmistress extrodinaire' in Lark rise to Candleford. She must have 100 vices but justifies them to everyone individually as her 'one weakness'.

I am rambling I know ,but just the sight of an ancient button tin makes my heart beat fast.I have now also got my mitts on a few vintage buttons,one of which I used for the corsage for this project.

I have screen printed the fabric with some boats, little fishing trawlers and ocean liners.I quite like the spots underneath.This fabric is sooo nice.A very fine linen.It takes the image well. I am going to make a skirt with some of it.

The final corsage has a vintage button, so much nicer than the repro ones.I am quite happy not to have found a hoard of them,it gives me one more thing to hunt out and an excuse to rummage through charity shops ( like I need an excuse!).It is built in layers .The back layer is a large flower shape, crocheted in Hemp. Then there is a ruffled strip of fabric printed with my boats, 2 suffolk puffs and my lovely Vintage Naval button.

Hope you like the results. I am quite happy.This is such an easy bag shape to make.I think on my next post I will include a tutorial.

This is the print on a piece of blue cotton chambre.It will become the next bag.Laura has already put in an order.

Laura and I went to see Juno.GO AND SEE JUNO.Such a lovely film,the acting is brilliant and the sound track is cool,so much so that the following day I bought the CD.

Feburary is flying

Last Sunday Mike awoke to me sitting in bed with headphones on knitting a sweater for my new i pod.

I obtained my i pod by default.I bought one for Laura as a Christmas present but by 23rd Dec it hadn't arrived .  So i ordered another one by express delivery.It arrived on Christmas eve.  Laura had her i pod for Christmas and was happy. On 28th of Dec the first one arrived. I should have sent it back, cus to buy 2 would break the bank..but i didn't.Now i dont care ,I love it .It needed looking after so a sweater was needed the Orange one is mine and the pink one is Laura's.

At last some sun!

This was taken later that day on a walk by the canal at Appley bridge.Such a nice day,we also paid a visit to Cedar farm.The highlight of the day was the warm sunshine.It has been dark and cold for so long,bring on the spring.

The photo is upside down.I think it looks better this way up.sometimes things do,I dont know why? maybe it's just my strange brain!(my family would probably think so!)

Well February is speeding by for me,I am struggling to find time to keep this blog updated.I knew that would be the case when I returned to work full time after 2 weeks of Flu and then a 1 week cold.

I have however so far kept my other new years resolution which was to make something every day.

Some of the results you will find later on

Valentines day

What can i say? Last week Mike and I had arranged to meet up at the weekend to do something romantic, as a belated Valentines celebration.However..I trundled (good word for the way I was feeling) home from work last night, having spent the day interviewing  candidates for a contextual studies post , listening to 9 X15 min presentations on DADA (enough said!)

Only to find Mike had snuck into the house(not literally he has a key)and made me a Valentines dinner!

Cod and Pancetta skewers and vegetable pancakes with a lovely bottle of my favorite fizzy stuff.An amazing surprise,earning him a supreme amout of brownie points!!

He did recieve a card,but I have some catching up to do at the weekend!

I have been adding some printing blocks to my collection

Neoprene..This is such an easy material to use.It can be bought cheaply and is easy to cut.I have just made a chicken block  but more about that in a later blog.                                                                           

I found this idea somewhere on my travels around the web.Not sure where tho?

Maybe Martha Stewart ( love this website)

It was a childrens craft idea. A Cheap pack of eraser topped pencils .These cost 99p for 30 from The works.

With a sharp blade you carve your letter.I drew mine on first with a pen,remembering to make my letters backwards! of couse i did. so I wasted a few pencils.

The end result was great.I also carved some tiny flowers and petals a heart and a leaf. I am about to make some more .Also some bigger ones on larger erasers.

Have to go now .I will extend this months entry in a couple of days...Lots more to show and tell... lots of thrift bargins and crafting..new bags.. fabric printing..apron swap info see you in 2 days.